[12.07.2010] The worldwide markets for products and services in the field of track systems have a total volume of EUR 33 billion on average between 2008 and 2010, and will grow by an average of virtually 5% by 2014. These are the central conclusions of the new Multi Client Study “Railway Track Systems – Global Market Trends”, presented by SCI Verkehr GmbH.

For the first time, we have analysed the world market taking 19 national leading markets into consideration in detail. In total, the world market is stable despite the economic crisis. The economic stimulus packages of many industrial countries mainly concern infrastructure projects; numerous plans can completely be financed and implemented sooner or faster. Many countries mainly in Africa and the Middle East have developed new extensive railway networks for the first time; other countries, particularly in Asia, supplement and fully refurbish existing networks to meet the requirements of globalisation. Thus, they will compensate some delays of densely developed networks.

Railway track systems are becoming technically ever more sophisticated. The market share of conventional railway will fall from 85 to 80% by 2014, the market share of high-speed transport will grow from 9 to 13% and its line network will be tripled.

Asia, Western Europe and North America are the three pillars of the worldwide railway track system market and make up three quarter of the worldwide market. The USA are heading the leading markets with nearly 17% on national level. China, which is by far the most dynamic market for rail track systems, will also become the largest in the next few years. SCI Verkehr expects, however, that this fulminate development will lead in a consolidation phase from 2013. Some way behind are the largest Russian network, the capital-intensive lines of Western European countries as well as India.

Among railway track system products, sleepers and rail fastenings make up the largest part of the market volume (around 17%), more than rails, switches and crossings together. A good third of the market volume can be attributed to installation services, a tenth to planning. The results of this forecast clearly reflect the current discussion about railway track systems such as the upcoming system decision between conventional and innovative technology and products and their consequences to the market which is to be made in numerous projects.

The study “Railway Track Systems – Global Market Trends” is available now.